Mechanically-controlled musical instrument.



No. 807,853. PATENTED DEC.19,1905.

J. MCTAMMAN'Y.

MECHANICALLY CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB8, 1002.

3 SHBETS-SHEET l.

I 0 l N v E N T U R g w w N I k M; W M M No. 807,853. PATENTED DEO.19,1905. J. MGTAMMANY. MEOHANIGALLY CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED I'EB.8, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 \WENTQR WITNEZEEEEI No. 807,853. PATENTBD DEC. 19, 1905.

J. YMQTAMMANY.

MEGHANIGALLY CONTROLLED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED FEB.8,1902.

5 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I \Nv'SNTmR: WITNEEEEEI E JOHN MOTAMMANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO F. A. MOTAMMANY,

OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

MECHANlCALLY-CONTROLLED MUSlCAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed February 8, 1902. Serial No, 93,274.

To all whom it 111 my concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN McTAuMAN Y, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanically Controlled Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to mechanically-controlled musical instruments; and it has for its object to provide selector-con,- trolled means for vibrating the strings of a zither or a similar stringed instrument where by the strings are successively engaged continuously to produce a practically sustained tone.

The invention therefore consists of an. instrument of the character described havinga plurality of independent selector-controlled pickers adapted to be moved either singly or in combination into operative relation to the strings and means for constantly imparting a picking motion to said pickers whereby they are caused to successively engage and release the strings or sounding devices so long as they are in said operative position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 represents a plan view posite that of Fig. 2.

thereof. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents an elevation of a portion of the machine from the side op- Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 represents a section through the vibratory support on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

On the drawings the body of the instrument is indicated at a, and it is provided with the strings I) b or sounding devices, which are stretched across the bridges a a in the way common to Zithers and similar stringed i11- struments. Underneath the body of the instrument is a wind-chest c, with whichcom- Inunicate two exhaust-bellows d d for the purpose of reducing the atmospheric pressure in the wind-chest c and an equalizingbellows d. The movable boards of the bcllows d d are connected by rods (1 to the walkingbeam or centrally-fulcrumed lever d. The fulcrum for this'lever is secured to one of two standards e 6, attached to the sides of the instrument and projecting above the strings thereof for supporting the operative portions of the action. Journaled in the standards is a driving-shaftf, equipped with a crankhandle f, the other end being formed with a crank f connected by a rod f 3 with the end ofthe walking-beam (F, as shown in Fig. 3, so that as the shaft f is retated the walking-beam is oscillated and the bellows d d are actuated to materially reduce The shaft f is utilized for the support of one of the selector-rolls, to be subsequently described.

Placed between the standards a c is a channel-board 9, having a plurality of channels or ducts 9 equal in number to the strings I), each channel terminating in a cavity 9 (See Fig. 4.) By means of lateral ducts g each channel communicates with a windway way communicating by a trunk g with the wind chest 0. Below the channel board there is a vibratory support h, formed with a series of cylindrical apertures or cavities, in which are placed pistons or actuators 7L2, each carrying a picker 7L3. These pickers project through reduced apertures in a plate h secured to the under face of the vibratory support to close the lower ends of the cylindrical cavities It. The vibratory support is held firmly though yieldingly against the under face on the channel-board by springs 01 i, (see'Fig. 5,) and the chambers h communicate with the respective cavities g in the channel-board at all times even though the support be vibrated. hen the mouths of the channels in the channel-board are closed by the selector, the reduction of atmospheric pressure in the wind-chest is sufficient to permit the actuators to be forced upward by atmospheric pressure operating on the lower ends thereof, whereby the vibration of the support is accomplished without the picking of one of the strings. hen one of the channels is opened, however, the influx of air permits the actuator to drop by gravity, whereby the picker carried thereby is moved to operative position with relation to a string and is caused to successively engage or pick a string until it is again withdrawn into operative position upon the closing of the channel.

The vibratory movement of the support is transverse to the strings, and the pickers are so located that during such vibration each one of them will pick only one of the strings. To accomplish the vibration of the support,

the atmospheric pressure in the windchest.-

g, formed in the channel-board, said windthe following mechanism is employed: A spring 1' (see Fig. 4) normally holds the support at one limit of movement. The support, however, is connected by a suitable flexible connection j, passing around the pulley j with a centrally-fulcrumed lever (See Fig. 5.) The said lever carries a roll j, which bears against a cam which is formed with a series of alternate projections and depressions to cause a rapid. oscillation or vibration of the lever a number of times during each rotation thereof. This cam is secured upon a hub of a roll 76, mounted loosely upon the 'shaftf. A smaller roll in is ournaled in the frame, the axes of the two rolls being located below the top of the channel-board, so that the selector a will be caused to bear tightly upon the top of the channel-board to prevent airleakage. The shaftfhas a small pinion o intermeshing with an idler 0, loosely journaled on the bracket 0 The roll is provided with a large gear 0 and it and the idler 0 intermesh with the same pinion 0, ournaled on said bracket 0 These gears are provided for the purpose of reducing the speed of rotation of the roll 7c when. the handlef is turned. The spring friction-board m bears against a groove-disk m carried by the roll m, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent the selector from unwinding too rapidly. The selector preferably consists of a strip of paper or equivalent material formed with perforations which are adapted to register with the mouths of the channels g to permit the entrance of air to said channels and effect the picking of the strings in any predetermined order to produce either single notes or chords.

The operation of the device needs no specific explanation, as it is apparent to those familiar with the art to which this invention relates.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is 1. A mechanical instrument comprising a selector, means for actuating it, a plurality of sounding devices, a vibratory support carrying a plurality of pickers, means for vibrating said support, and means controlled by said selector for effecting the engagement of said pickers with said sounding devices, the means for vibrating the support and the means for actuating the selector being connected to operate in unison.

2. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, means for actuating it, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, means for continuously imparting a picking movement to said pickers, and means under the control of said selector for shifting the position of said. pickers to enable them to engage said sounding devices, whereby relative movements of the parts will cause the pickers to effect a sustained tone.

3. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, mechanical means for continuously imparting a picking movement to said pickers, and pneumatic mechanism -for effecting the engagement of said pickers with said sounding devices.

4. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, means for actuating it, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, means for imparting a vibratory movement to said plurality of pickers simultaneously and means controlled by said solector for varying the positions of said pickers relatively to said soumling devices, whereby relative movements of the parts will cause the pickers to effect a sustained tone.

5. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, means for imparting a continuous vibratory movement to said pickers, and selector-goveriicd actuators operatively connected to said pickers to of- -feet the engagement of said pickers with said sounding devices.

6. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, a plurality of actuators and arranged. above said sounding devices, said actuators carrying said pickers, means governed by said selector for shifting said actuators and pickers to operating position, and means for constantly imparting a picking action to said pickers.

7. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a selector, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of pickers, a movable support carrying said pickers, means for vibrating said support, and a plurality of selectorgoverned actuators on said support in operative relation to said pickers to move said pickers into operative relation to said sounding devices, whereby relative movements of the parts will cause the pickers to effect a sustained tone.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MoTAh IMANY. lVitnesses M. B. MAY, A. D. .I'IARR'ISON. 

